Oura smart ring may be able to monitor blood pressure around the clock in the future. In a patent, Oura describes a method for combining data from multiple sensors to determine accurate blood pressure rather than simply identifying the risk of high blood pressure.
Last October, Oura launched a study to determine the risk of high blood pressure using the Oura Ring 4 sensors. It seems that Oura wants to go one step further in the future and not just assess risks, but provide real-time blood pressure readings around the clock.
Oura filed a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on November 1, 2023, and it was granted on February 17, 2026. This patent describes a method for synchronizing data from multiple devices for determining blood pressure. The patent covers different types of devices; In addition to smart rings, it also describes smartphone cameras, smart watches, and body-worn sensors that can provide data to this system.
In essence, the patent describes a method for measuring the duration of pulse waves between two points on the body. This is essential because blood pressure is determined based on the time it takes for the pulse wave to travel from one point on the body to another. The pulse interval determined in this way allows Oura to calculate blood pressure. As the patent drawings show, specific values for systolic and diastolic blood pressure are displayed, rather than just an approximate trend line, as is the case in some competing products.
By combining a smartphone camera with the Oura Ring 4, blood pressure can be measured without the need for additional devices. However, to collect data around the clock, this approach will require the purchase of an additional sensor. As usual, such patents do not necessarily mean that the feature will actually be integrated. More comprehensive studies will not show whether accurate blood pressure data can be collected in this way until later.
